The Gulen Institute is a non-profit located in Houston, Texas that is dedicated towards promoting both academic research and social change. They also have an annual essay contest for high school students from grades 9 through 12.

The top 20 essays win prizes, so this is a worthwhile opportunity.

• 1st place receives $4,000
• 2nd place receives $2,500
• 3rd place receives $1,000
• 4th-20th place receives $300

Furthermore, essays that are placed from 1st to 30th will be honored at an awards ceremony in Washington, D.C.:

During their 4-day trip to D.C., students will have the opportunity to meet U.S. Congress members, participate in round-table discussions, visit think tank organizations and tourist attractions.

The costs of this trip (airfare, food, accommodation, etc.) will be paid for, which would make this a really special experience in our nation’s capital.

The deadline for this great opportunity is January 31, 2010.

The topic of the essay this year is:

The use of military means as a solution to today’s international and national political issues:

Diplomacy or war, democracy or military coup?

The Gulen Institute offers some great suggestions and resources for getting started on this.

If you are interested you can submit your essays, which must be between 1,500 to 2,000 words, here.

This is a great opportunity to become more engaged with our most pressing issues and perhaps get a trip to Washington D.C.!

Best of luck!